SHANGHAI: James Soong, chairman of People First Party (PFP) in Taiwan, arrived in Shanghai yesterday afternoon to attend a non-governmental forum with the theme of promoting economic ties across the Taiwan Straits.

inscription, centre), chairman of People First Party in Taiwan, shows his inscription describing his feelings upon finishing a visit to the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Centre shortly after his arrival in the East China metropolis yesterday afternoon. Soong was in Shanghai to attend the Cross-Straits Non-governmental Forum of Elites, which opens today. Gao Erqiang" hspace=0 src="/images/404/404.jpg" align=baseline border=1> James Soong (holding the inscription, centre), chairman of People First Party in Taiwan, shows his inscription describing his feelings upon finishing a visit to the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Centre shortly after his arrival in the East China metropolis yesterday afternoon. [CD]

The three-day Cross-Straits Non-governmental Forum of Elites, which opens today, is jointly sponsored by the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and PFP's Policy Research Centre.

Unlike his first visit to the mainland four months ago, the Shanghai trip mainly focuses on business issues, Soong said upon arrival at Pudong International Airport.

"With Shanghai becoming a top economic and trade hub of the world and the Yangtze River Delta emerging as a new economic powerhouse, the region is a very important base for Taiwanese businesses," he said.

The Shanghai trip is not only one of reconciliation, but also a trip of co-operation and business exchanges, said Soong.

The forum, attended by approximately 150 party leaders, business elites and senior scholars from both sides, focuses on four topics, including the role and status of Taiwanese investors on the mainland, agricultural co-operation, normalization of investment, and in particular, direct cross-Straits shipping, postal and trade links known as the "three links."

Soong and Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Jia Qinglin will deliver keynote speeches this morning. Soong will also jointly host the opening of the forum, together with Chen Yunlin, director of the CPC Central Committee's Taiwan Affairs Office.

The forum is regarded as a step towards realizing the consensus reached between Soong and CPC Central Committee General Secretary Hu Jintao during their talks in Beijing in May. Both parties agreed to maintain dialogue.

The mainland has taken a series of concrete steps to facilitate cross-Straits business and exchanges of personnel since Soong's visit in May and an earlier visit by the then Kuomintang Chairman Lien Chan.

The mainland waived the import taxes on 15 kinds of Taiwan fruits starting from August 1, in addition to continued efforts to smooth passenger transport and chartered freight flights across the Straits, and simplify Taiwan compatriots' entry into and exit of mainland.

The mainland education authorities have equalized tuition fees for Taiwan students studying in mainland universities, and are consideringoffering special scholarships for Taiwan students studying in mainland colleges.

"There are still some issues that need further efforts from both sides, and the forum in Shanghai will provide a good opportunity for discussion," PFP Secretary-General Chin Chin-sheng was quoted by Taiwan local media as saying prior to the Shanghai trip.

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